What changes do you want to see in your life, family, or home in 2025?
By Sulaiman Momodu
So soon 2024 has come, made its history like other years before it, and has gone forever. How would you remember it? Amid the usual joy and pain of life, if you are alive, be thankful to God and pray for the souls of friends and loved ones we lost last year to rest in peace. Happy New Year 2025!
As you may be aware, my writings these days focus on the Word of God and of values that are very scarce in the lives of most people, families, and homes and we blame God or the devil for our largely man-made challenges. Our country Sierra Leone is a highly corruption-infested country. We have looters in all walks of life, including in high places. Come Friday or Sunday though, most of us put on our best dresses on a very corrupt body and are naïve that we have a relationship with God. If I may ask, who is the master of a very corrupt public servant? God or the devil?
IS SPIRITUAL WARFARE REAL?
Well, I won’t deceive you that spiritual things are real if I have not experienced them and have not seen people contending with them. Don’t be ignorant! The spiritual world is as real as the physical world. God is real, but He gave us a free will. Our ignorance is our undoing.
RESOLUTIONS FOR THE NEW YEAR
Please remember that for things to change in your life, you must change. For things to get better, you must get better. For things to improve, you must improve. When you grow, everything in your life grows with you. Seek knowledge and understanding. Personally, last year, my 2024 resolution was to obtain a C2 in French. C2 is the highest level of French proficiency in the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages. If you are thinking of working internationally, you must keep on improving to stay relevant, including acquiring international language skills. What is your New Year’s resolution?
HOPE IS NOT A STRATEGY
Always remember that hoping for things to get better is not a strategy. Improve your skills. Undertake relevant courses and use your resources wisely. One area of stress for most people is the lack of finance or job insecurity. The foundation for financial freedom is to spend less than you earn and never use your resources to impress people. More money is not a solution to poor money management. It takes planning and sacrifice to become financially independent. Live wisely!
PLEASE USE YOUR AUTHORITY
Last year, I travelled to some countries and visited places where some people believe in the power of some gods. I was warned that my mouth and neck would get bent if I mocked a very powerful spirit believed to have nine heads. I was excited to “have” a bent mouth and neck, so I visited one of such absurd places and I had the best laugh of my life. Understand this! No ridiculous witches, wizards, or evil spirits will harm you. It is a pity to see many people living in fear. God created the earth for us humans so please use your authority. The Scripture is clear that we have authority to trample on snakes and scorpions and to overcome the power of the enemy and that nothing will harm us (Luke 10:19). Please stop believing that witches/wizards or forces of darkness will stew you and your children and chop all of you as supper. Trust me, if you are a believer in God and use your power and authority, no harm will befall you. Stop blaming your challenges on the witches in your village when you are bewitching yourself through your ignorance about the Word of God, your thoughts, actions, and lack of self-discipline.
WHAT IS YOUR KNOWLEDGE ABOUT THE KINGDOM OF GOD?
Hosea 4:6 says that my people are destroyed for lack of knowledge. My encouragement? Gain knowledge and please don’t stop there, apply it which is wisdom and leads to change. Don’t be a toddler when it comes to spiritual things. You see, when you positively change your ways of thinking and doing things, your life will change. The Bible encourages us to renew our mind and not be conformed to this world (Romans 12:2). When you get better, your life will get better. I am a Sierra Leonean journalist currently working for the UN. My greatest achievement in life is discovering the truth in the Word of God and my passion these days is to share the gospel which leads to transformation.
SOME TIPS FOR 2025 AND BEYOND
As we begin another year, here are some thoughts which you may find useful:
1)Make necessary adjustments in your life. Evaluate relationships that are meaningless and be courageous to set boundaries.
2) Know how to plan, set goals, and stop making the same mistakes and decisions that have hindered you in the past. Be self-disciplined.
3)Write down your life vision and stay focused (Where there is no vision, the people perish).
4) Learn to manage your resources (Stop living beyond your income or doing things to impress people or to seek external validation). Always remember that you will lose whatever you mismanage.
5) Don’t focus on short-term benefits but think long-term and be committed to what will make you a better person ( Don’t follow the crowd!). Engage in self-development habits and not self-destructive behaviour or lifestyle.
6)Be a person of value and success will chase you ( Never strive to be rich financially but very corrupt with a bankrupt soul or want to be rich or have qualifications without hard work, sweat, or sacrifice).
7) Always put your trust in God. Never put your trust in people and always remember that there are no guarantees in life.
8)Never take God’s divine blessings for granted ( Don’t take life for granted. Count your blessings)
9)Saturate yourself with the Word of God and always remember James 4:7 ( Submit yourself to God. Resist the devil and he will flee from you. Romans 8:6 says to be carnally minded is death but to be spiritual minded is life and peace. Zip up!
10) Always put God first. Never forget Matthew 6:33 ( Seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness and all things shall be added unto you.) You never know when it will be your last day or hour on earth. Never forget that life on earth is temporary.
We all go through storms and tests of faith in life, but if you truthfully put God first, I can assure you that you will enjoy divine peace, good health and you will become light in this spiritually dark and ignorant world in which we live. Happy New Year and best wishes of peace and joy in 2025 and always.
